This month's speaker will be a perennial crowd favorite- Dennis Olivas. Dennis will tell us about Asian Cymbidiums. The presentation will include live demonstrations, Q&A, and a PowerPoint presentation.

Dennis was born on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. As a lad, he helped his mom and aunt grow their orchids and got hooked. He joined the Future Farmers of America, and his project was raising and selling these beautiful and exotic plants. In 1980, he moved to the mainland and swore off the orchid family, but not for long, as he went to Rod McLeallan’s Acres of Orchids in South San Francisco. From there, his whole life became one downward spiral. First, he fills his home with upwards of 6,000 plants. Later, he leased a greenhouse space for his ever-burgeoning orchid collection. Glutton for punishment, his collection grew to overflow the 3,000 sq. ft. greenhouse in Half Moon Bay.

With the help of his close friends from the Bay Area, Napa, and Fresno, they moved his obsession to a greenhouse in Daly City in November of 2013. A whole new ball game of learning how to raise orchids, still without heat but in an area that gets more sun and higher temperatures, with good water year-round. Also, the 3,000 sq. ft. greenhouse space now expands to 5,500 sq. ft.

He was President of the Peninsula Orchid Society, San Francisco Orchid Society, Diablo View Orchid Society, and Santa Cruz Orchid Society. He is an accredited judge of the American Orchid Society. Dennis belongs to over 14 orchid societies and tries to assist them whenever possible.

Members of DVOS are invited to a no-host, pre-meeting dinner with our guest speaker, Dennis Olivas. We will meet for dinner at 5 PM on Thursday, November 14th at:

Yan's Garden

2223 Morello Ave

Pleasant Hill, CA

This restaurant is a 10-minute drive from the meeting venue. If you wish to attend, please RSVP to bonddiane9@gmail.com by 5PM Wednesday, November 13th so that I can make reservations.

Greetings Orchid Friends,

There is a lot of important information in this month’s Newsletter! There is the proposed slate of Society Officers and Directors. There’s information on the upcoming Holiday Dinner and Gift Exchange. There’s also information on how to renew your membership, and if you do so by December 10th, you will receive free orchid (generously donated by our speaker this month, Dennis Olivas) at the Holiday Dinner.

As I wrote in last month’s President’s Letter, discussed in the announcement of the proposed 2024 slate for the Board, we are still looking for volunteers for Officers (specifically the Vice President) and Directors at Large. See the article later in this newsletter. If you look at the names in the proposed slate, you'll see numerous repeated names (i.e., the same people are filling multiple positions -- and have done so for many years). It would be wonderful if we could add some new blood to our core group of Officers, Directors, and Coordinators. Volunteering needn't entail a huge time commitment and you get to hang out (virtually, because our Board meeting are held using Zoom) with cool, knowledgeable people These leadership positions are what make the Society function. Please consider volunteering for one of the open positions, either at the November meeting or by sending me an e-mail at dvosshowandtell@gmail.com.

What’s blooming at your place? Do bring your blooms to the November meeting’s Show and Tell session; it will be the last opportunity to do so in 2025. My Coelogyne Jannine Banks 'Snow White' is sending up a new spike and this will be the third time it’s bloomed this year. My Leomesezia Lava Burst 'Puanani', after a month-long “rest” with no blooms is sending up a new batch of spikes. A Cymbidium Golden Elf 'Sundust' HCC/AOS has been blooming since early September, but that display is pretty much over. A Vanda (Neofinetia) falcata that bloomed through much of August and September is putting out a surprise “bonus” spike, and the Neostylis Lou Sneary 'Bluebird' I brought to the October meeting is still blooming and sending up a fourth spike.

Henry

Schoenorchis fragrans

Grown by Diane Bond

Diane brought a beautiful, tiny species that is native to Eastern India, Burma and Thailand. They grow at elevations of 2500-3300 ft in seasonally dry areas. In culture you should grow in shaded areas in cool to warm conditions. Plants should be watered often while actively growing but water should be reduced in autumn. Diane grows this in an intermediate greenhouse, dappled light in Oakland.

Novice First Place

Dendrobium phalaenopsis 'Little Girl'

Grower Ricardo Pastor

Ricardo brought in a beautiful species Dendrobium. He grows this plant from summer through early fall in a greenhouse that has high temperatures between 70-90 degree. No direct sun. He fertilizes twice a month (once with 20-20-20, once with Cal-Mag). He moves these plants in to the house in early fall to a room that receives lots of bright sun light.

Novice Second Place

Vandachostylis Motes Quantum

Grower Maggie Wu

Maggie brought in a beautiful Vandachostylis hybrid. This plant likes high light. It can grow in cool to warm conditions and might even tolerate hot temperatures. This plant enjoys high humidity in the summer. Ideally grow in a basket or mounted and water daily.

Novice Third Place

Miltoniopsis Sunglow 'Amazing'

Grower Ricardo Pastor

Ricard brings in a Miltoniopsis hybrid. He says these are his favorites because they are fragrant, the flowers are colorful AND they bloom two times a year. He keeps his Miltoniopsis outside in Richmond all year where the highs will be 75-80 degrees. He waters more if it gets hot to keep the plants cool. He fertilizes twice a month with 20-20-20. They get a bit of sun in the morning but indirect light in the afternoon. He finds the most important factor in growing this species will is the cool evenings we get over here by the bay.

Intermediate First Place

Rhyncattleanthe Brenda Ruedy

Grower Renate Johnson

Renata brings in a beautiful Rhyncattleanthe hybrid. This is from Fred Clarke's small Cattleya breeding program. This is a good example of what he is looking for. Good form, bright color and compact plant. This plant should grow well in bright indirect light, and cool to warm temperatures. This plant MUST dry out between waterings.

Intermediate Second Place

Rhyncholaeliocattleya Heavens Gate

Grower Linda Castleton

Linda brought her beautiful Rhyncholaeliocattleya Heavens Gate in to share. It is always a joy to see. Linda grows her plant in a greenhouse with bright indirect light in Walnut Creek. This plant might tolerate dappled light conditions. It likes warm to hot conditions and might tolerated cool temperatures. This plant MUST dry out between waterings.

Intermediate Third Place

Neostylis Lou Sneary

Grower Henry Shaw

Henry brought in a primary hybrid of Vanda falcata and Rhynchostyis coelestis. He grows this plant indoors (eastern exposure window) in San Ramon. This plant likes dappled to bright indirect light. It should grow in cool to warm temperatures. It likes a lot of water in the summer then less in the cooler months.

Advanced First Place

Cattleya Floralia's Azul-Labiata

Grower George Su

George brought in another beautiful blue Cattleya. This plant should grow well in dappled to bright indirect light, and cool to warm temperatures. This plant MUST dry out between waterings.

Advanced Second Place

Guarianthe bowringiana 'Abe'

Grower George Su

Hmm... another blue from George! This species is native to Guatemala and Belize. They are commonly found on granite outcroppins at elevations of 350- 3300 ft in very moist areas. In cultivation this plant like bright indirect light, cool to warm conditions and water frequently but allow roots to dry out between waterings.

Advanced Third Place

Bulbophyllum thiurum

Grower Liz Charlton

Liz brought in a beautiful species that is native to Malaysia. It is from lowland swamp forests and is most likely EXTINCT in the wild. In cultivation it prefers shade. It will grow in cool to warm conditions.

It’s that time again. Please send in your dues for next year so we can continue to keep DVOS going. Everyone who gets their dues in by December 10, 2024, will receive a plant generously provided by Dennis Olivas. The plants will be presented at the holiday party.

There are two easy ways to pay- electronic or good old snail mail. See the instructions below.

Get those dues in so that DVOS can continue to be the society we all depend on.

Electronic submission of DVOS dues:

https://forms.gle/3FzHywMkM7o1hrSJ9

Electronic payments can be made at:

http://bit.ly/40tnpje

Mail in the submission of DVOS dues:

1. We ask for the following LEGIBLE information:

• First Name
• Last Name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Address

2. Write a check for $30, payable to Diablo View Orchid Society.

3. Mail the check along with the information indicated above to:

Maggie Woo

PO Box 492

Danville, CA 94526

You will be notified by email of receipt of funds and membership form.

It is that time of year again. Our annual holiday party is coming up:

Thursday, December 12, 2924

Pleasant Hill Community Center

Set up 6:00, Dinner 7:00

We will have many of our favorite activities:

• Pot luck dinner
• Gift exchange
• Dennis Olivas is providing a plant for members who have renewed their membership (for 2025) BEFORE the party.
• We have a liquor license, so you can bring wine or beer if you would like.

Holiday Gift Exchange Rules

1. Bring a wrapped gift--a plant or an orchid related item that you yourself would like to receive.
2. Pick up a ticket (hold onto it!) and place your gift on the table in the middle of the room. Take a look at what people brought without undoing the wrapping.
3. Each person whose ticket number is called will select a gift, also without undoing the wrapping (guessing is part of the game!), then present the gift to the audience—read the label, describe the item, etc. The next number will be called after we’ve all had a chance to admire your gift.
4. Put the gift you chose on your table and keep it there where everyone can see. No putting it down on the floor or otherwise hiding it.
5. The next person whose turn it is can either “steal” yours or any other available gift. If yours is stolen, it'll be your turn next to pick.
6. Each gift may be stolen up to twice. After the second time, the gift is considered “dead” and cannot be taken away from that person.

It’s that time of year again! As you know, our nonprofit relies on dedicated volunteers from the community to help facilitate meetings and make important decisions about guest speakers and events. We’re reaching out to passionate leaders like you to step up and contribute your time and talents. Your involvement is crucial for our organization’s continued growth and success. Together, we can make a lasting impact and create opportunities for our orchid community. Join us in this rewarding journey and help shape the future of our nonprofit!

Our Bylaws prescribe how DVOS elects the Society's Officers and Directors. Each year, we publish a proposed slate nominees in the November newsletter and at that month's general meeting. Additional nominations can be made from the floor at that meeting, or submitted in writing to the Secretary in time to be read at the November meeting. As explained in the previous article, we are still looking for additional nominations for the VIce President and for additional Board Members at Large

Orchid Culture, Conservation and YOU! A Virtual Speakers Day.

The AOS is proud to announce its 6th Orchid Culture Day! Enjoy four great talks all in one day from the comfort of your home. Join Us! Spend a day with these accomplished speakers and "Know More (in) November"

Sunday, November 10th starting at 10:00 AM CST/11:00 AM Eastern

There will be a Q&A session after each talk. All times listed are EASTERN

Unable to Join the livestream? No problem!
We will provide registrants with a link to view the recording at their convenience.

Register Today for this most interesting and informative Speaker Day.
More Details & Speaker's Bios

There will be a Q&A session after each talk.

This event will be held virtually through the GotoWebinar platform

Cost: $40 Open to All - Tell your orchid friends! There will be door prizes.

Click Here to Register

You will receive an immediate confirmation upon successful registration.